I have this bag I got to be all professional-looking with, but the dullness is killing me!

So I want to add...something to it, like paint something on it or a fabric applique. I have a few ideas. But, I've never dealt with vinyl/pleather. And since the bag's...made, I don't have extra material to just try these techniques on. So, anyone who has any experience, please advise me on:

-gluing fabric on vinyl/pleather - Is it possible? What type of glue would of recommend?-painting on vinyl/pleather - Acrylic? Thinned with water? Or matte medium? Spray paints? Oils?

Hello all. I need help with a shoulder/messger bag I'm making. It's basiclly this messenger bag with gusset tutorial http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2684.0 pattern, but I wanted it to be wide enough so I could fit my laptop as well as all my regular purse stuff, so it's around 5 in wide. I wanted to a sturdy strap (I don't think interfacing would cut it) so I was planning on covering webbing with the fabric. But the widest width I've found webbing in is 3 in.

The problem I foresee is: because the strap width isn't flush with the width of the bag's sides, the weight of the bag would always strain and pull at the stitchs and eventually brake the strap from the bag.

Am I correct in thinking this? Is there a way to re-enforce the strap? I haven't really been sewing very long, so any suggestion would be welcomed. Thanks.

The fabric is this maroon cotton canvas i got on sale and the lining is a light worsted wool. Like with my http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=87452.0 cow bag I used ayrylic paint mixed with fabric medium. I like how it looks painted, so I think I'm going to do a one in blue soon, and paint Amalthea from the last unicorn (her favorite movie).

This is the second bag I've made, but the first one I've posted here. I found the jersey cow pattern fabric on sale at jo ann's. It looked good with the light colored denim so WA-la; my new messager bag!Painting the little cow took less time then the bag!I kept it simple, with just one outside pocket in the front. I realize now I should have covered some webbing with the fabric when I did the strap. Other then that, I love it.

Hi all. I'm new to crafters.org, but been making things next to forever. I want some advice about these cards I'm making for my friend. She spent the last year abroad in Japan (lucky her), and as a gift I plan to make her a bunch of kimono cards like this

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My question is about the patterns. I used origami paper, but are they enough like a furisode patterns? Or am I just being needlessly anal? Second, should I put a lighter pattern inside? Or would that make it too difficult to write on?